Construction to launch on farmer-owned fertilizer plant

Construction is ready to begin on the first of seven fertilizer manufacturing plants that will be owned by farmers across Western Canada.

Genesis Grain & Fertilizer, LP (limited partnership), will build the plant $24-million plant at Belle Plaine, Sask.

Genesis is backed Farmers of North America (FNA) and AgraCity Crop & Nutrition (AgraCity).

"Farmers have been deserving of this unique business structure for countless generations," says FNA president James Mann. 

"In a matter of 12 months once construction is complete, just over 600 farmers from over 200 Western Canada communities with the vision and confidence to join FNA and AgraCity on this journey, will be the first to directly share in the responsibility and rewards of owning part of a major fertilizer supply and distribution system.  A piece of the supply chain they can call their own."

The Western Canadian market is now dominated by Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, the world’s largest potash mining company, and Agrium, the world’s largest fertilizer retailer, who have announced plans to merge.

The deal has approvals from some countries, but not yet from Canada and the United States governments.

                           

AMC has new partner

The Agriculture Manufacturers of Canada has a new partner – HSBC Bank Canada.

The bank joins other AMC partners, such as Farm Credit Canada, Aon Risk Management, Supreme Basics and Glacier FarmMedia.

Under the leadership of president, Leah Olson, AMC is placing priority on advocacy and increasing knowledge about the important economic contributions of agriculture equipment manufacturers across Canada.

In 2015, Canadian agriculture equipment manufacturers exported more than $1.8 billion worth of implements to more than 150 countries.

Key markets included the United States, Australia, Russia, Kazakhstan and Germany.

Egg board directors re-elected

Most of the Ontario egg marketing board directors are winning zone elections again this winter.

So far these people have been elected:

Zone 1 - Scott Helps

Zone 2 - Dianne McComb

Zone 3 - Dan Veldman

Zone 4 - Roger Pelissero

Zone 6 - Scott Graham

Zone 7 - Scott Brookshaw

Zone 8 - Hubert Schillings

Brookshaw, who is a senior executive with Gray Ridge Eggs, the nation’s second-largest egg grading and production business, is new.

Zones 5,9 and 10 will hold elections during February and the pullet-sector director will be elected during the egg board’s annual meeting in March.

Labour MD added to pesticides review board

Dr. Rajaram Nikhil, a medical doctor who works for the Ontario Ministry of Labour, has been appointed to a three-year term on the Pesticides Advisory Committee.

The committee advises the provincial government about additional restrictions on the application of pesticides that have gained federal government approvals.

This appears to be one of the better government appointments because the people who handle pesticides for a living need a knowledgeable medical doctor looking out for their interests.

Laser tests soil fertility

Logiag Inc. of Quebec is using lasers to test soil fertility and claims it can produce faster and more accurate results.

The federal government has given the company $470,000, which it hopes will be repaid, to launch the business.

The company says Bayer, SGS, and others have already shown interest.

Charles Nault, the company’s president and chief executive officer, says the support is crucial for the company to establish and demonstrate its technology.